Garment carrying bag lock



Nov. 23, 1954 J. RITTER, JR

GARMENT CARRYING BAG LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 7, 1953 .rrrnwabbf a p NOV. 23, 1954 m T JR 2,695,085

I GARMENT CARRYING BAG LOCK Filed D90. 7, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV. 23,1954 m JR 2,695,085

gAR MENT CARRYING BAG LOCK Filed Dec. 7, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 UnitedStates Patent GARMENT CARRYING BAG LOCK Julius Ritter, In, Racine, Wis,assignor to Hartrnann Company, Racine, Wis, a corporation of WisconsinApplication December 7, 1953, Serial No. 396,666

9 Claims. (Cl. 19043) This invention relates to improvements in garmentcarrying bag locks, and more particularly to a lock for securing aflexible garment .carrying bag in its doubled over transportablecondition and for also locking the slide fastener for an interiorcompartment of the bag against unauthorized operation.

There are on the market certain types of flexible garment carrying bagsfor full length garments which can be suspended in outstretchedcondition .from a hook in an automobile, Pullman compartment or closet,or which can .be medially folded upon themselves and engaged by a handlepositioned along the transverse line of fold to permit the .bag, in thelattercondition, to be manually carried in the manner of an ordinarysuitcase or piece of hand luggage. When a garment carrying bag of theaforesaid type is in its outstretched condition one face thereof has anexposed full length opening into the interior of the bag controlled by aflexible flap which can be separated from the wall there-adjacent foropening purposes along an end and side margin of the flap, which line ofseparation is controlled by a conventional slide fastener. Because ofthe flexible nature of the bag, when it is in its folded overtransportable condition a tamperer might, if provision were not made toguard thereagainst, reach the aforesaid slide fastener and thereby openthe flap to the interior of the bag and obtain access to the contentsthereof. The present invention, however, has as its principal object theprovision of a locking means for not only holding portions of the bagtogether in the folded over condition but for also locking, in saidfolded condition of the bag, the slide fastener operator for theinterior compartment closure flap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment carrying baglock of very simple construction and which, through a singlemanipulation, will perform a dual function.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment carrying baglock which in no way interferes with the normal use of .the bag.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment carrying baglock with which a flexible type garment carrying bag may be readilyprovided at a minimum of expense, which is neat and inconspicuous, whichis simple and effective in its operation, and which is well adapted forthe purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view the inven tion consists of theimproved garment carrying bag lock and its parts and combinations as setforth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the garment carrying bag in itsoutstretched full length condition, looking at the inner face and oneside edge thereof and showing the line of severance of the maincompartment closure flap controlled by a slide fastener;

Fig. 2 is an end perspective view of the bag in its folded overtransportable condition showing the lock which retains the portions ofthe bag in folded over condition and locks the inner closure flap slidefastener op erator;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the lower endportion of the bagin itsfolded over condition, only showing the locktherefor in its released condition and disengaged from the closure flapslide fastener operator; and

adapted to house 2,695,085 lcfi Patented Nov. 23, 1954 Fig. 4 is afragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and especially to Fig.1, it will appear that the improved garment carrying bag in itsout-stretched condition is generally of rectangular contour and it is inthe nature of an enlarged envelope of substantial breadth with thevarious walls thereof being'formed of a strong fabric or other suitableflexible material. The inner face wall, generally designated by thenumeral 8, extends from top to bottom in the outstretched condition ofthe bag and has attached to two of its longitudinal edges narrower endwalls 9 which are formed of flexible material and which are in a planegenerally at right angles to the planes of the inner wall 8 and an outerwall 10, the latter being secured to the other longitudinal edges of theend walls 9 by suitable lines of securement which are preferablyreinforced by leather covered strips or welts 11. Said outer wall 10 isalso of a flexible material.

The inner face wall 8 of the bag may be opened to give substantialaccess to the interior of the bag which is full length garments. Theopening separation takes place along'a transverse line of severancewhich at one corner of the bag is rounded and extends into alongitudinal line of severance along a longitudinal margin of the innerface wall 8 to permit the release along these margins of a closure flap12. The slide fastener which is adapted to traverse the entire line ofseverance between the closure flap 12 and the inner face wall 8 isindicated in the drawings by the numeral 13. The slide fasteneroperator, which is at one end of the complete line of severance when theclosure flap is in its secured position, is designated by'the numeral 14and in the present invention this slide fastener operator carries aflexible loop or handle 15 of a substantial size, whose function will bereferred to more fully hereinafter in connection with other elements ofthe bag lock.

The garment carrying bag is adapted to carry in its main compartment, inthe upper end thereof relative to Fig. 1, conventional garment hangers(not shown) for the removable support of full length garments such ascoats, suits, dresses and the like. Also there may be provided on theouter face of the closure flap 12 auxiliary pockets 16 and 17 whichcan'be used for the storage of smaller articles of wearing apparel andmiscellaneous travelling equipment. The upper margins or entrances tothe auxiliary pockets 16 and 17 are normally maintained in closedcondition by slide fastener means 18 and 19.

When at a point of destination or in an automobile or Pullmancompartment, the garment carrying bag may be supported in unfoldedoutstretched condition, as in Fig. 1, by means of a pivotal hook 20 atthe top end of the outstretched bag engaging any suitable elevatedsupport or hanger rod. In this position of the bag the full lengthgarments housed therein are covered and protected in their normaloutstretched condition and are maintained free of wrinkles and foldlines. Also in this condition when the closure flap 12 is in its securedrelation to the inner face wall 8, the housed garments will beprotected.

As will appear from Figs. 1 and 2 the end walls 9 in the region of thetransverse median of the bag along which the folding is accomplished arelocally widened to aid in the accommodation of the folded over portionsof the garments when the bag is folded into its transportable condition.Also the outer face wall 10 along its transverse median and inregistration with the locally widened re-- gions of the end walls 9, ispreferably reinforced and a conventional carrying handle 21 is anchoredto the outer face wall and reinforcement thereof.

Along the transverse median of the inner face wall 8 and suitablycovered with leather or other finishing material is a rigid retainer bar22 adjustably associated with the ends of the rigid reinforcing means onthe outer face Wall by strap and buckle means 23.

When it is desired to fold the bag for transportation and manualcarrying purposes, from the condition of Fig. l. to the condition ofFig. 2, it is folded medially upon itself with the retainer bar 22cooperating to define the line of fold. Then, that portion of the bagwhich includes the reinforced transverse median of the outer face wallcarrying the handle 21, becomes the top of the folded bag.

The lower portion of the end wall 9, considering the bag in itsoutstretched condition, carries a transverse strap 24 having its freeend portions adapted to transversely overlap the opposite end portion ofthe end wall 9 when the bag is in the folded condition of Figs. 2 and 3.The free end portion of the strap 24 carries a key controlled lockelement 25 equipped with opposite side spring urged latching shoulders26. A folded over end wall portion 9 overlapped by the free end portionof the strap 24 on the other extremity of said end wall 9 has anchoredthereto a looped metallic buckle member 27 which is adapted to beentered by the lock equipped free end of the strap 24 to retain the bagin its folded over condition. The projecting condition of the shoulderedlatch elements 26 prevents the undesired withdrawal of the lock end ofthe strap from the looped buckle 27 unless the shouldered latch elementsare pressed inwardly, and by virtue of a key applied to the lock 25 themembers 26 can be locked in their outspread condition. Thus, the bag maybe locked in its folded over transportable condition in which conditionit is most apt to be indiscriminately stored or made available to atamperer.

The present invention furthermore aims at the locking of the loop of theslide fastener operator for the main compartment flap 12 when the bag isin the folded over condition of Fig. 2. By referring to Fig. 3 it willbe observed that in the folded over condition of the bag, when theclosure flap 12 is secured by the slide fastener 13, the loop 15attached to the slide fastener operator is adjacent one of the end wallswhich is at a bottom corner portion of the bag when the bag is foldedover. Hence the slide fastener operator may be locked againstunauthorized operation or tampering byv inserting a strap 24 through theslide fastener operator loop 15 just prior to inserting the lock end ofthe strap into the fixed buckle loop 27. When the latter is accomplishedthe condition shown in Figs. 2 and 4 attains and if the resilientshouldered members 26 are locked against withdrawal from the buckle loop27, not only will the bag be locked in its folded over condition but thelooped end 15 of the slide fastener operator will be locked on anintermediate portion of a strap 24 so that a tamperer cannot manipulatethe slide fastener 13. Consequently the improved lock means for the bagaccomplishes a highly desirable dual function.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely anexemplification of the principles involved and the right is reserved tomake all such changes in the details of construction as will widen thefield of utility and increase the adaptability of the improved garmentcarrying bag lock provided such changes constitute no departure from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a flexible garment carrying bag for full length garments and ofthe type to be suspended in outstretched condition or folded mediallyupon itself for hand transportation and including an inner face flapcontrolling access to the interior of the bag, closure means for saidinner face flap, said closure means having an operator which in the flapsecuring condition of the closure means is positioned adjacent adownwardly foldable corner of the bag, complementary securing means onopposite downwardly foldable portions of the bag for securing saidportions together, said complementary securing means being also directlyengageable with the inner face flap closure means operator in the foldedcondition of the bag.

2. In a flexible garment carrying bag for full length garments and ofthe type to be suspended in outstretched condition or downwardly foldedmedially upon itself for hand transportation and including an inner faceflap controlling access to the interior of the bag, closure means forsaid inner face flap, said closure means having an operator which in theflap securing condition of the closure means is positioned adiacent adownwardly foldable corner of the bag, a tongue having an end portionanchored to one of the downwardlv foldable corner portions of the bagand engageable with the other downwardly foldable corner portion of thebag for securing said bag portions together, said tongue also beingdirectly engageable with the inner face flap closure means operator inthe folded condition of the bag to prevent operation of said closuremeans.

3. In a flexible garment carrying bag for full length garments and ofthe type to be suspended in outstretched condition or downwardly foldedmedially upon itself for hand transportation and including an inner faceflap controlling access to the interior of the bag, closure means forsaid inner face flap, said closure means having an operator which in theflap securing condition of the closure means is positioned adjacent adownwardly foldable corner of the bag, a strap anchored at one end toone of the downwardly foldable corner portions of the bag, anintermediate portion of the strap being fixedly engageable with the flapclosure means operator in the folded condition of the bag and having itsfree end overlapping the other downwardly foldable corner portion of thebag, and means on the latter corner portion of the bag for locking thestrap thereto.

4. In a flexible garment carrying bag for full length garments and ofthe type to be suspended in outstretched condition or downwardly foldedmedially upon itself for hand transportation and including an inner faceflap controlling access to the interior of the bag, closure means forsaid inner face flap, said closure means including an operator which inthe flap securing condition of the closure means is positioned adjacenta downwardly foldable corner of the bag, a loop movably carried by saidclosure means operator, a tongue having an end portion anchored to oneof the downwardly foldable corner portions of the bag, and means forlockingly engaging the other end portion of the tongue with the otherdownwardly foldable corner portion of the bag for securing said bagportions together, an intermediate portion of said tongue beinginsertable through said loop.

5. In a flexible garment carrying bag for full length garments and ofthe type to be suspended in outstretched condition or downwardly foldedmedially upon itself for hand transportation and including an inner faceflap controlling access to the interior of the bag, a slide fastener formarginal portions of said inner face flap including an operator with alooped member which in the flap secured condition is positioned adjacenta downwardly foldable corner of the bag, a tongue anchored at one endportion to one of the downwardly foldable corner portions of the bag, anintermediate portion of said tongue bein insertable through said loopedmember in the folded condition of the bag to prevent operation of theslide fastener, and a buckle on the other downwardly foldable cornerportion of the bag engaging the other end portion of the tongue forsecuring said bag portions together and confining said looped member onthe tongue.

6. In a flexible garment carrying bag for full length garments and ofthe type to be suspended in outstretched condition or downwardly foldedmedially upon itself for hand transportation and including an inner faceflap controlling access to the interior of the bag, slide fastener meansfor said inner face flap including an operator, a lpoped member flexiblycarried bv said operator and positionedadiacent a downwardly foldablecorner of the bag when in its flap securing position; a strap anchoredat one end to one of the downwardly foldable corner portions of the bag,an intermediate portion of the strap being insertable through said looed member in the folded condi ion of the ba and having its free endoverlap ing the other downwardly foldable corner portion of the bag, andmeans on the latter corner portion of the bag for releasably locking thestra thereto.

7. Tn a travelling bag which in its hand carried conditron includes apair of face to face pouch sections with a flap in an inner face of oneof the pouch sections controlllng access to said pouch section and afastener for said flap, said fastener having an o erator, a strap havinone end portion anchored on a lower portion of one of the pouch sectionsand attachable to the flap fastener to anchor 1t, and means for lockingthe other end portion of the strap to the other of said pouch sectionsto hold the pouch sections in juxtaposition and to confine the flapfastener operator against unauthorized operation.

8. In a flexible garment bag adapted to be transversely medially foldedupon itself for carrying purposes, an inner wall of the bag in itsfolded condition having a pocket therein, a flap closing said pocket, aslide fastener applied to marginal portions of said flap, a loopedmember for operating said slide fastener, a strap secured at one end toone of the folded over portions of the bag and extended across the otherfolded over portion of the bag and through said looped member to secureit against operation of the slide fastener, and means for securing 5 t3the other end' PCgfitlOl of the strap to said other folded ReferencesCited in the file of this patent over portion of e ag.

9. In a travelling bag which in its hand carried condi- UNITED STATESPATENTS tion includes a pair of face to face pouch sections with aNumber Name Date flap in an inner face of one or" the pouch sectionscontrol- 5 1,771,429 Wisbith July 29, 1930 Eng access to said pouchsection and a fastener for said 2,596,412 Kish et al May 13, 1952 apformed with a looped member, a strap having one end portion anchored ona lower portion of one of the FOREIGN PATENTS pouch sections andinsertable through the looped member Number Country Date to anchor thefastener against operation, and means for 10 437,876 Great Britain Nov.6, 1935 locking the other end portion of the strap to the other of saidpouch sections to hold the pouch sections in juxtaposition and toconfine the looped member on the strap.

